Improved rudder



N. PETERS. PROTO-LIYHOGRAHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

7 l NUrurnn 'STATES `PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LEWIS, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVED PLUDDEFLI Specification forming part Vof Letters Patent No. 4l 2,4194, dated April 2d, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN LEWIS, of Elizabeth, in the county of Essex and State of N ew Jersey, have invented, made, and applied to use a certain new and useful Improvement in Rudders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to theaunexed drawings, making part of this specitication, wherein- Figure l is a plan ot said rudder. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same and Fig. 3 is av view ofthe front edge ofthe rudder.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts.

The nature of my said invention consists in wings or auxiliary rudders attached to the main rudder on each side thereof', `whereby the rudder does not have to be as broad as new usual, and there is less liability of its being broken and less power is required at the helm. I apply said wings in such a manner that one wing will close against the rudder by the action of the water on the side toward which the rudder is moved, while theopposite win g acts to balance the action by the water on the rudder, thereby relieving the helm from strain.

In the drawings, a is the rudder, of any usual size or shape, and attached to the sternpost c by any convenient means, and the rudder-stock b extends up' into the vessel and is actuated by any suitable helm or steering apparatus.`

d d are my wings or blades, sustained by arms or braces, e e, extending from the sides ofthe rudder. These arms are inclined forward, (see Fig. 1,) and the wings at their ends are, when the rudder is straight in advance of the rudder, in order that the surfaces exposed to the action of the water may be nearly equal all around the vertical axis or center of motion of the rudder, so that the rudder may be held more easily in consequence of the action of the water being thus balanced. The wing, being in advance of the rudder, also prevents said wing acting in the eddy Water. In Fig. l it will be seen that the front edge of said win g stands nearly opposite the rudder-post for the purpose aforesaid, although the rudder is in a diagonal position.

The arms or braces e e might be rigid. I, however, prefer to have them formed as joints at both ends, so that the wing can swingwith the moving ends of said arms and come against the side of the rudder. Chains ff may be attached to these wings and pass up through or on the outside of the rudder-stock, by drawing on which the wings will be brought up against the sides of the rudder for the safety of those wings while lying in portor in case ot drift ice, Sac.

The ends of the braces or arms e e next the rudd r may be attached by any suitable joints; but to facilita-te repairs to the wings I prefer that such joints be formed by rings, eyes, or hooks at the ends of chains or ropes passing up through tubes or grooves in the rudder, as represented by dotted lines at g, and the lower ends of such holes or grooves determine the point at which the rings stop and on which the arms swing; or said chains may pass beneath cross-pieces or hooks, or through the rudder and up on the opposite side, and thereby retain the ends of the arms in position against the ru Ider. The arms themselves should be formed so as to present their narrowest edge to the passing water, and may be braced for strengthening them, and said arms may be provided with slots to pass over hooks attached to the rudder, as at i, for formn g an additional attachment for such arms.

It will be seen that the blade on the forward side ot' the rudder, when turned diagonall y, will be closed down against the rudder itself by the action of the waterI on its outerv side, and that the other blade, by the action of the water against its inner side, will be moved out from the rudder, and tend to turn the rudder itself into a still more diagonal position, thus relieving the helm ot' strain to a considerableextent and at the same time acting in .such a way as to turn the ship in the proper direction. The wings, when applied to a rudder behind a propeller, :are to be ot' such a shape that they cannot come in contact with the propeller-blades, and they may swing either downward or upward in closing, and, if desired, with wings folding upward against the rudder, chains attached from the vessel to the upper end ofthe wings may sustain their weight when in a normal position. I have shown by red lines, Fig. 3, ropes from the upper ends of the wings crossed, and they are to extend upward and backward to the overhanging stem of the vessel, so as to close the wing that is on theside toward which the rudder is moved. y Rfopes may be substituted for chains, and rods may be introduced in vcon- )nection with the chains in soine portion of their length.

It will be evi-dent that two wings on each side might be used in place of one, and that the ropes or chains; f should lead to a device 'such recess ,when the ropes f are slackened. A The wings may be fitted to open farther from the rudder at the bottom than at the top t if thezupper arms are the shortest. If it is desired to move the win gs out from the rudder without their being elevated or depressed, yas required for shallow water, the arms e je may be attached to the rudder on vertical hinges, so as to swing out horizontally and carry with theirouter ends said wings, *which wings will swing open in this direc-tion by the action ofthe water so soon as the rudder is moved diagonally to the vessels length. It will be evident that when the wings are placed slightly forward of the rudder, the steering will be much easier; but these wings might be opposite orto the rear of the rudder, it' required for the particular vessel.

What I claim, and desire'to secure'by Letters Patent, is

l. Wings on'each side of the rudder acting substantially in the manner and for the pur- Iposes specified. A

2. Wings attached by hinged or jointed arms for the purposes specified. v

3. Attaching the arms of the wings to the rudder by the chainsor ropes for the purposes specified.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set'iny signature this 5th 'dayof March, A. D. 1864.

JOHN LEWIS. j Witnesses:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, Jos. T. FALEs. 

